The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-01-26

handsome neuu, tntt All u 20 piihSo
which distinguishes him from all others
is the most beautiful woman Athol
has ever seen. She is concious OF a
keen Jealous pang at sight OF the lovely
stranger to whom Morris seems so de-
voted. She becomes so lost in her own
thoughts that she scarcely realizes
where she Is.
Miss Clifford, you look pale, the
room is so close; shall we go out upon
the balcony n few momentsp' Reused
to outer consciousness by her compan-
ions words, Athol makes an effort to
appear interested, and says, with n low.
sweet laugh: at seems n pity not to
take advantage Of this delightful
waltz
Her escort eagerly places his arm
around her and they glide off into the
circle. The waltz over, they move to-
wards n of the windows, Athols eyes
i%nvoluu,arily seek the spot where Lang
lev stands convcrsing with his partner.
Becoming aware that her companion
is gazing earnestly into her face she
saws: is she not a beautiful womanP'
Yes, TO those who admire that
typc." he replies. with a look which
conveys the idea that the type he most
admires is at his side. Her eyclids
droop and a vivid flush suiiuses her
face, although the man is totally I'M
interesting to her. She feels excessively
annoyed and raises her eyes just in
time to meet those of Norris Langley
bent full upon her as he passes, with
the beautiful southerner on his arm.
He bows distantly and then, as his
companion speaks. he turns his head
with n smile. A sharp pang OF disap-
pointment pierces her heart although
She tells herself that it is just rs she
'pected.
'.Are they not a handsome coupler"
she hears a lady say, meaning Norris
and his companion. "She is his ward
soon to be his wife, so it is rumored'
and l should say rumor is right for
once. One would know TO see them
together that they are in love-"
Yes. it is but too apparent, thinks
Athol, bitterly, glancing at Morris, who
is bending towards the fair southerner,
whose orbs are raised to his while her
lips part with a low, soft laugh.
The rest of the evening Athol is
strangely brilliant, drawing a crowd OF
admirers about her with her witty
badinage, yet she overhears N lady
say to another:
.'How i'll Miss Clifford is looking this
evening"
Yes, positively %haggard,' is the re-
ply. II wonder if" but their voices
are lowered, though she catches the
name of Langley MS they glance at her.
Athol retires to her room. with a feel
ing of utter helplessness. What a
miserable failure ! must have made Of
it," she thinks, ''to have called forth
such remarks. Have so little control
over myself that the evidence of a
breaking heart s plainly legible in my
face? Breakingp / thought it was
broken on that terrible day! Shall l
ever forget it. Now it seems have ii
all to live over again. i must leave
his place, / cannot bear it! | cannot
see him with her day after day and
maintain an outward calm! Why, even
Alfred Wardc suspected something, for
he would persist in talking of Morris
lovely afianced, rs he called her. with
his gaze fixed upon my face. | fear he
has not forgiven my rejection OF him,
though / thought he had recovered that
blow to bis vanity long ago. Yes, yes
/ must 90! | will ask papa to take me
away early in the morn,ng; L will not
see him again.
She goes TO her father. who consents
at once, as he ALWAYS does to any wish
of his only and idolized child. Athol
returns to her room. She kneels down
by the window which overlooks the
long piazza, throwing her arms upon
the window sill and burying her face in
them she burst into m uncomfortable
lit OF weeping.
.sShe is so loUely! and he loves her; |
could almost hate her! o, Morris, say
that YOU do not love herr she ex-
claims, mournfully. Suddenly her
hands are taken in a warm clasp and
her lame breathed softly in the voice
she loves. 'Athol. my love. my darl-
ing, say that you love me still" For
a moment, with n thrill Of unutterable
ioy, she allows her hands to rest in his,
forgetting everything in the happiness
of his presence, but at his last words,
she snatches them away.
How dare you. sir! you, the promis-
cd husband of another! Your words are
an INSULT Go this instant! She is NOV
ing from the window when these words
arrest her: There is some mistake;
stay. | implorc your
Athol invomntar " comes closer and
leans out of the window. "Are YOU
not engaged to marry your ward. Miss
S.lvesierP'
Certainly not; how came you to i'm
= nv .uo Narto NTH a l0Ol